Its official - GWR have managed to run an entire year without customer engagement that didn't fit into 140 characters.

Whoop!

On a more serious note I continue to remind GWR about how important Meet The Manager sessions are (sorry, were). I believe that a session was held in Oxford this year, but aside from that it has been very disappointing.

Just had an update from GWR - almost 3 months on, still no plans for Meet the Manager sessions at Paddington, Reading etc.

It seems rather odd that legions of managers can be spared to attend back slapping award ceremonies and glug champagne, but apparently none can be spared to meet customers in this way.

An interesting illustration of GWRs priorities, and its attitude to engaging with its customers, especially in a time of such dire service levels, when increased communication/explanation is so much more important.

These were being discussed only last week as to being relaunched, so your contact might have better news in a week or so. Check the minutes of the Didcot Passenger Panel when they get loaded to the website as I've asked for my question/answer about them to be added

These were being discussed only last week as to being relaunched, so your contact might have better news in a week or so. Check the minutes of the Didcot Passenger Panel when they get loaded to the website as I've asked for my question/answer about them to be added

The new franchise apparently only requires 6 a year....and they're using them where most impact will be felt, so where large scale works are taking place, rather than simply to take queries, where various other options are available for this - website contact form, various social media etc.

"We hold Meet the Manager sessions throughout the year, where you can tell us what you think, and hear our latest news"............................or not.

Wouldn't it be refreshing if GWR did more than the bare minimum, and tried to set an example to the rest of the industry, rather than being satisfied with being perceived as being towards the bottom of the barrel by its customers?*

How about a session for the long suffering Cotswold Line customers whose "service" at the moment is little more than a disgrace?

To view my cab run over the new Reading Viaduct as well as a relief line cab ride at Reading just after Platforms 12-15 opened and my 'before and after' video comparison of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/1

The local MP, Robert Courts, organised it, and publicised it through Charlbury Town Council, the Charlbury Town website & various mailing lists. Very well attended, both by commuters, users & high-level GWR management, it was well received, and all points were heard & made.

And recent - within the last two months or so, certainly when the service was extremely poor. And the public were well involved, so I suspect not what you heard about on the grapevine

The local MP, Robert Courts, organised it, and publicised it through Charlbury Town Council, the Charlbury Town website & various mailing lists. Very well attended, both by commuters, users & high-level GWR management, it was well received, and all points were heard & made.

And recent - within the last two months or so, certainly when the service was extremely poor. And the public were well involved, so I suspect not what you heard about on the grapevine

OK it's good that this happened but this was an event initiated and organised by the MP, rather than a "Meet the Manager" session held by GWR.

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